Joseph de brouwer



(No Model.)

J. DE BROUWER.

GAS WASHER.

N0.'404,606. Patented June 4, 1889.

I I I i i i J i z 2 E A g i J 6 J" g 9' z A j i l l I I Arron/ms.

N PETERS Plmlo-Lilhognphen Washinglnn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JOSEPH DE BROUWER, OF BRUGES, BELGIUM.

GAS-WASH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,606, dated June 4, 1889. Application filed November 1S, 1888. Serial No. 290,694. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DE BROUWER, a subject of the King of Belgium, and a resident of Bruges, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Washers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to apparatus for purifying gas used for heating and illuminating purposes; and its object is to provide a single apparatus whereby the gas may be exhausted from the retorts, cleared of all its impurities, condensed and properly carbureted and prepared for consumption, which operations have hitherto-been performed by separate apparatus known as exhausters, condensers, washers, scrubbers, puriflers, and carburetors.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts of the gas purifying apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, the figure shown being a central Vertical section of an apparatus constructed according to my invention, the shaft thereof being broken away. r

The apparatus consists of a cylindrical metal casing A, supported on suitable feet or standards and divided into a series of equal.- sized overlying compartments by fixed diaphragms B, having a central opening, through which passes the shaft 0, which may be belted or geared inconnection with. any preferred motor. On the shaft 0 within the casing are mounted to rotate in the chambers formed by the diaphragms B a series of drums D, having hubs D held at equal distances apart by collars E, fixed on said shaft. Said drums are constructed in two parts a and e, which project outward from said hub, converge toward each other at their outer edges, and are held apart thereat by bolts or braces, so as to leave a space between them for the exit of the gas and purifying liquids into said chambers. The upper part of said drums is provided with an annular vertical flange surrounding a central opening therein for the shaft C, and the lower part c, which is also centrally apertured, is provided with an anwhile partially obstructing the course of the gas and allowing the drum to turn freely without coming in contact with the diaphragm. Between the upper edge of the hub D and the flange of said drum a space 0 is provided for the passage of the purifyingliquids, said opening being partially spanned by an annular deflectorf, attached to said drum. The casing A is provided at its bottom with an opening H, to which a pipe or pipes leading from the gas-retorts may be connected in any proper manner, and also with suitable openings in its bottom for the exit of the purifying-liquids an d their freight, and at its top, in alignment with the opening H, an opening I is provided, to which a pipe or pipes leading to the gasometer or storagechamber may be attached in similar manner. A pipe K, leading from a receptacle or receptacles containing the purifying-liquids to be employed, enters the casing A at its top, is bent downward, and has its point of discharge within the flange of the upper drum and over the opening 0 between said flange and the hub of the drum. It will thus be seen that the apparatus is in its construction essentially a turbine. 7

In operation, communication being established between the casing A and the retorts and gasometer, and power being applied to the shaft 0, the drums revolve and draw in'the gas through the opening H, said gas- The gas is thus continuously drawn into the drums and acted upon by the purifying-liquids therein, and is saturated and scoured thereby, causing the precipitation of tarry vapors and of other liquids held in suspension by the gas; the cooling or warming of the gas, according to the temperature of the pnrifying-liquids used; the absorption of the vapors and crystals of naphthaline, if tar or heavy oils are used; the carbureting of the gas, if volatile hydrocarbons are used; the purification of the gas of its ammoniacal vapors or impurities, if either feeble ammoniacal liquor or pure water is used, and the absorption of carbonic acid, sulphohydric acid, and various other impurities, if purifyingliquidssuch as caustic ammoniacal liquids are used.

The several actions of the improved apparatus are accomplished as follows: The centrifugal power giving impulse both to the gas and to the liquids produces a sort of whirlwind, mixing intimately and violently those bodies, the result being the propelling or exhausting of the gas, and the condensing, or, rather, the precipi tating, of all tarry and other vapors carried with the foul gas. At the same time the gas flowing upwardly through the apparatus and the liquids running in the opposite direction lowers the temperature of the gas if the liquids are cold, or raises it if the liquids are hot. Then and all at once there is a chemical action of the liquids on the gasthe water is saturated with ammonia, the ammonia is saturated or combined with carbonic bioxide or sulphureted hydrogen. If the liquids entering the drums are alkaline, they will remove from the gas every trace of acid bodies produced in the retorts and carried with the gas. If the water is mixed with tar or heavy oils, those bodies will condense some naphthaline and light oils, and if naphthas are injected the gas will carry them away and be carbureted. Thus it is that the apparatus can be made to produce all or several effects at the same time.

I wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the number of drums and chambers shown, as the same may be increased or diminished, if desired; nor to the introduction of the purifying-liquids at the top of the upper chamber, as it is obvious that separate pipes may lead to each chamber for the injection of such liquid as the condition of the gas at that point may render necessary and desirable.

The injection of the purifying-liquids may be dispensed with if found desirable, and the apparatus used solely for exhausting the gas from the retorts and precipitating the tar therefrom, and the details of construction may also be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A gas-purifying apparatus consisting of a cylindrical casing provided with a lower plate having a gas-supply opening and exitopenings for the purifying liquids, a vertical shaft journaled centrally of said casing, and a turbine mounted on said shaft in said casing and apertured in its top and bottom sections for the passage of said gas and purifying-liquids, substantially as shown and described.

2. A gas-purifying apparatus consisting of a cylindrical casing provided with a lower plate having a gas-supply opening and exitopenings for the purifying-liquids and divided by fixed horizontal diaphragms having a central aperture into a series of overlying chambers, a vertical shaft j ournaled centrally of said casing, and a series of apertured horizontal drums mounted on said shaft to rotate in said chambers, the apertures in said drums being in the top and bottom sections thereof and in register with the diaphragmaperture, whereby a vertical central passage is formed from end to end of the casing, substantially as set forth.

3. In a gas-purifying apparatus, the combination, with a cylindrical casing provided with a lower plate having-a gas-supply opening and exit-openings for the purifying-liq uid s, and fixed horizontal centrally-apertured diaphragms dividing said easing into compartments, of a vertical shaft journaled in the casing and provided with horizontal drums rotating in said compartments, said drums consisting of upper and lower spaced plates or members, each having a central aperture or opening, the openings in the diaphragms registering with the openings in the upper members of the drums, substantially as set forth.

4. In a gas-purifying apparatus, the combination, with a cylindrical casing provided with a lower plate having a gas-supply opening and exit-openings for the purifying-liquids and horizontal centrally-apertured diaphragms dividing it into compartments, of a vertical shaft having horizontal drums rotating in said compartments, and each consisting of a hub and upper and lower spaced centrallyapertured members or plates, the openings in the lower members or plates registerin g with the diaphragm-openings to discharge through the upper opening of the next drum below upon the upper side of the hub therein, substantially as set forth.

5. In a gas-purifying apparatus, a purifying-drum consisting of a hub, and the centrally-ap ertured spaced concave members 6 e. secured with their concave sides toward each other, the opening in the upper member 6 being of greater diameter than the hub, which in turn is of greater diameter than the opening in the member 6', substantially as set forth.

6. In a gas-purifying apparatus, the combination, with a cylindrical casing provided with a lower plate having a gas-supply opening and exit-openings for the purifying-liquids and horizontal centrally-apertured diaphragms forming a series of overlying co1npartments in said casing said diaphragms having annular depending flanges g around their openings, of a vertical shaft, horizontal two-part drums thereon Within said compartments, the drums being formed of a hub having an annular deflector f on its upper face, and upper and lower centrally apertured spaced parts 6 e, the upper aperture having a diameter larger than the annular flange g and the lower aperture having an annular flange g, entering the diaphragm-openin g and of a smaller internal diameter than the deflector f, to discharge thereupon, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my 15 invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 17 th day of October,

' JOSEPH DE BROUWER. Witnesses:

GAsT. MPIERRIN, EMILE NUYT. 

